Below the hook lifting equipment.

This section is directed at anyone who may not be familiar with cranes or the lifting industry. Below is a selection of various 

types of lifting equipment, some you may be aware of, others not so. As with all lifting equipment, each item must have a 

recorded serial number either stamped or attached by a tag, that corresponds with the one on the test certificate issued with 

that item, stating the safe working load. Most of the under the hook equipment below should be thoroughly examined by a  

competent person at least every 6 months (unless otherwise stated), but visually checked before each use.   click on images.

  If you require any of the items below, or other "Below The Hook" lifting equipment, please  click here  for details.

 Li-Lo or boot type concrete skip.

This is one of several types of skips used on construction sites, used for pouring concrete. 

Incorporates a hand-wheel for easier pouring into columns and formwork etc.

Adjustable Pallet/Brick Forks.

A set of pallet forks with adjustable spine and forks, for lifting 1 pallet or pack of bricks at a time. Note the safety net.................No net, No lift!! 

Adjustable lifting beam.

A type of lifting beam used for lifting awkward loads for example machinery or unbalanced loads.

The beam illustrated  is rated to  200tons.

Electromagnet.

Electromagnets are used in foundries and scrap yards everywhere. Often used with Gantry and overhead cranes but can easily be adapted for crawler cranes also. The magnet shown has a tare weight of 5 tons.

They have tremendous flat surface power and run on direct current supply.

Fixed Head personnel

 lifting basket

Lifting cages or baskets are designed for access  to otherwise inaccessible places.

Additional regulations are associated with this item (safety harness, escape cord, fall arrester etc).

The basket shown is of dual purpose, it can be fixed onto the end of the crane boom or hung from the hook.

Plate Glass Vacuum Lift.

Lifting frame with electronically operated vacuum suckers for use with plate glass. The frame illustrated has 16 powerful  suckers that create an incredibly strong grip on large flat sheets of glass. Especially useful whilst replacing glass on higher buildings .

Clamshell Grab.

Clamshell grabs can be hydraulically operated like the one in this image or by means of 2 wire ropes. One rope holds the load, the other opens and closes the grab.

Used in docks for unloading grain, sand and ballast etc. The grab in the image above is being used on a dredger. 

Girder Clamp.

This type of clamp is now being used instead of chain slings during steel erecting.

Whereas chains wrapped around a girder can slip, a clamp tightens up on the steel in the same way a vice does and stays secure. Also prevents the links on chain slings from premature wear.

Dragline Bucket.

Dragline buckets are used in mines, quarries, gravel pits etc. Essentially crawler crane equipment, operated with 2 winches, one for holding the bucket (load), the other fills and empties the load by means of pulling and releasing the winch.

The dragline bucket illustrated has a huge 60 cubic metres capacity.

Bosuns Chair.

Originally used to transport personnel from ship to ship at sea, but also used widely for hoisting banksman/slingers to inaccessible places.

Because this item is used for lifting personnel, special regulations are involved (harness) etc.

Vibrating Pile Hammer/Extractor.

A type of Hydraulic vibrating pile driving hammer/extractor, very quiet.

Power Pack for vibrating Hammer/Extractor.

Diesel hydraulic Power Pack for use with Vibrating Hammer/Pile extractor.

A range of diesel hammers.

A range of Delmag single piston diesel hammers heard on building sites everywhere with the familiar "banging" noise.

A type of Brick grab.

Used on construction sites everywhere, commonly to off load bricks/blocks adjacent to delivery trucks.   Only to be used with a safety net when placing materials around the site by crane.

Pallet/Blocks  Multi-Lift.

Multi-Lift frame used for lifting large quantities of Bricks/Blocks etc. Mostly used for unloading ships.       The mobile crane operators dream !!!  

 Single action Pipe-grab.

A type of Pipe-grab used for lifting concrete drainage pipes etc.  Single action grips and hoists in one movement.

Concrete Flooring Beam Lifting Clamp. 

Adjustable lifting clamp for different widths of concrete pre-cast flooring beams. This type of lifting clamp is not widely used but is available to hire.  In my opinion should be promoted  much more!

Hydraulic Fork Grab.

An hydraulically operated Fork or Finger Grab, used in scrap metal yards and bulk rubbish transfer stations etc.

Hydraulic Rail Track Clamp.

A type of rail clamp used for moving Train Rail track sections.

Demolition Ball.

A 1.5 tonne Demolition Ball not often seen nowadays but still in use with crawler (friction drive) cranes.

Crane on Proof Load Test.

Crane on test  with "balloon" type water filled test weights.

Scrap Grab.

Hydraulically operated

Designed for use on small Excavators and Truck loader Cranes

Lifting Tackle.

This section illustrates some of the main types of lifting tackle that is used in the crane/lifting industry. Throughout  lifting 

operations all over the world, chains wire rope slings, fibre slings, shackles etc, are an integral  part of daily lifting and should  be treated with respect. Unfortunately through "pressures" of work, lifting tackle tends to be overlooked based on my own experience. However below are some common types of tackle. click on images.

These chain shorteners are of the hook type and  used by simply placing a chain- link over the hook.

These chain shorteners are of the clutch type and can be confusing to some users

Note. The differences between the two sets of brothers (two leg chains) with shorteners in figures 1 and 3 above can easily be seen in the design of the chain shorteners. Although in both sets the shorteners do the same job,  figure2 shorteners are easy to use whereas figure 4 shorteners seem to cause much confusion with many users. Indeed so much so that I have brought this to notice. On numerous occasions I have hoisted loads down from the rooftops of buildings only to find that a banksman/slinger has connected this type of shortener the wrong way around, and when shown the correct way, many still find them difficult to use. The correct way is shown in figure 3.

Double Ended Clutch type Shorteners 

These type of shorteners are very useful with machinery removals etc. They can be placed anywhere in a chain-sling and are completely detachable.

12 inch Fibre Type boat slings

12 inch x 15 metres x 10 tonnes poly-fibre slings, commonly used for lifting boats etc.  

Various types of anti-twist swivels

Used in demolition and with grabs etc.  To stop hoist rope twisting.

Polyester Type Round Slings.

Round or Endless type slings made of an inner core with hundreds of  polyester strands for flexibility. Commonly used in machinery removals etc. Colour coded for different loads.

Wire rope Sock.

Used for reeving derricking ropes etc.

Various lifting hardware.

Various types of lifting implements. 

Cargo/Safety net.

Cargo/Safety net either for use with loose materials or can be used with pallet forks etc.

Body Safety Harness. 

Full body harness for use when personnel are working with man lifts, bosuns chairs and lifting cages etc.

Escape/Fall Arrester. 

A type of fall arrester used whilst working at heights on Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (cherry pickers), or personnel baskets etc.  Enables escape over the side in the event of  mechanical breakdown and saves accidental falling.

Wire Rope Sling.

A type of wire rope sling,  one of many different types.  This one is without thimbles,( steel rings that fit inside the loops).

Capacities range from just a few kilos to hundreds of tons.

Single Line Hook Swivel.

Another type of anti-twist swivel used on a single line.   

This one is a Hook/Swivel combination.

Crane Operators personal Equipment.

Personal equipment that should be standard issue for all crane operators. Remember no safety wear-no work.

Various Chain Sling Hooks

A selection of chain sling hooks commonly used in the crane/lifting industry.

Crane Hand Signals

Crane hand signals. For those who aren't familiar with them, and those who should be !!!